October 16, 2025, Albuquerque Journal, Incumbent, challenger square off in partisan West Side City Council race by Olivier Uyttebrouck

Allen, 46, who is married to Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, leads security operations at Kirtland Air Force Base, overseeing a staff of 40 at the Air Force Research Laboratory. She began her career as a background investigator at both of New Mexico’s national laboratories. Allen said that housing development on the West Side has outstripped transportation needs and alleged that Lewis’ “combative” style has limited funding for West Side roads and infrastructure development.

October 13, 2025, Daily Lobo, City council district five candidates by Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa

“Crime and homelessness is really important to me, so that is something that I've dealt with in my everyday life for over 26 years as a law enforcement wife,” Allen said. 


October 8, 2025, Albuquerque Journal, Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 5 Athenea Allen

What differentiates you from your opponents? I bring fresh, solutions-oriented leadership to Albuquerque. Councilor Lewis has held this seat for 16 years, yet crime, homelessness and housing challenges persist — and his record is clouded by ethics concerns and conflicts of interest. With federal investigative experience and deep West Side roots, I’ll deliver results, public safety and stronger neighborhoods.

October 7, 2025, League of Women Voters, District 5 Candidate Responses

Making Albuquerque safer is a top priority for me. On the Westside, we need more officers, proactive policing, and stronger accountability for repeat offenders. I'll invest in tools like ShotSpotter and license plate readers while addressing root causes through youth programs, addiction treatment, and behavioral health. Just as important, I know how to work in partnership with other councilors, the administration, and county and state leaders to deliver real results and safer neighborhoods.

October 2, 2025, City Desk, Ethics complaint alleges Lewis violated settlement over Air Quality Board in budget discussion by Jesse Jones

Former state legislator and attorney Daymon Ely filed the complaint with the State Ethics Commission on Sept. 25, claiming Lewis improperly discussed Air Quality Control Board matters during a May 8 budget meeting in violation of an agreement with the commission to avoid matters relating to the board while holding outside employment with a trade association whose members fall under its jurisdiction.

Lewis’s May 2024 ethics settlement required him to recuse from all City Council matters “relating to” the Air Quality Control Board while working for the Asphalt Pavement Association of New Mexico.

In announcing the settlement, the commission wrote “there was reason to believe that City Council President Dan Lewis’s official acts to dissolve the AQCB would directly impact his employment as APANM’s executive director and, therefore, in the Commission’s view, City Council President Lewis’s negotiating and acquisition of employment with APANM violated… the Government Conduct Act.”